Jesse Thuerk was nervous for weeks and rightfully so. The Lakewood High junior, playing goalie for the Columbine Rebels, was set to face the program — Ralston Valley — that he grew up following when he played midget hockey in Arvada. Now he found himself in net — in the 2016-17 season opener at that — against the Mustangs.

But the tension that he had been feeling was non-existent Dec. 1. He was, as he said, unusually calm.